Bandar Seri Begawan – The Brunei Malay teachers association (PGGMB)
has been encouraged to explore three potential opportunities available
within the country, which includes the Brunei Halal brand, achieving
self-sufficiency for national rice production and further developing
the tourism sector.

This was stated by the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Industry
and Primary Resources, Dato Paduk Hj Hamdillah, at a general meeting of
the PGGMB on Sunday.

Regarding the Brunei Halal brand, he said the setting-up of Brunei
Wafirah Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is wholly owned by the government and
the legally owned Brunei Halal brand upholds the integrity of Brunei as
a valuable national asset. Among the responsibilities involved is the
issuance of licences to eligible companies to use the Brunei Halal
brand.

Brunei Wafirah is in the process of approving licences to Ghanim
International Food Corporation Sdn Bhd, JV Government of His Majesty
and Kerry FSDA.

Various other infrastructures have been implemented to support the
Brunei Halal brand such as the development of 264 hectares in Tungku
for an agro-tech park, a Halal Science Centre and the construction of a
deep water port in Pulau Muara Besar.

When it comes to achieving self-sufficiency in rice production, Dato
Hamdillah said that his ministry through the Department of Agriculture
had identified several areas for rice production, which would allow
Brunei to achieve a self-sufficiency standard of 20 per cent by 2010
and 60 per cent by 2015.

“The opportunities within this field are not confined to padi
planting, but also consultancy, infrastructure development, machinery
supply, after sales service and providing further education for farmers
involved,” he added.

Touching on tourism, the Deputy Minister also said that the private
sector can invest in the second phase of the construction of Kg Ayer
Tourism and the cultural gallery, which is set to commence operations
in August.

The second phase of construction involves accommodating a
restaurant, performance stage and additional gallery. “I believe that
PGGMB members will see this as an attractive opportunity and will also
bring back old memories of how life used to be in Kg Ayer.”